# Virginia HB653: Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc. Virginia HB653, Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0193)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB653-2026 - As of: 2026-10-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Virginia HB653 - State: Virginia - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Excused student absences; visitation of immediate family members on active duty military, etc. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-13 - Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0193) - Sponsor: Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 10 (323 yes, 7 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary Excused student absences for visitation of immediate family members in connection with deployment. Allots five excused absences to any student whose immediate family member is active duty military and has received orders for, is on leave from, or has recently returned from deployment outside the United States for the purpose of visitation with such family member, provided that the student provides written documentation verifying such leave or deployment if requested by the local school division. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Excused absences for health or safety: benefit, low. Absences for a student’s mental or behavioral health are excused under state guidelines. A juvenile court can also recommend excusing a student for health (with medical proof) or when the student’s safety fears are justified. The school board must excuse the student for the period the court sets. - Excused day for civic or tribal events: benefit, low. Middle and high school students get one excused day each year to take part in a civic event. Students who are members of a state‑ or federally recognized tribal nation headquartered in Virginia get one excused day per year to attend the tribe’s pow wow, with advance notice. Schools may require adva… - Five excused days for military visits: benefit, low. A student gets up to five excused absences to visit an immediate family member on active duty who has orders for, is on leave from, or just returned from deployment outside the U.S. The school can ask for written proof. - Religious absences and protections: benefit, low. Schools must excuse a student from attendance if the family is sincerely opposed for bona fide religious reasons. Political, philosophical, or personal moral views do not qualify. Schools also must excuse verified absences for religious holidays. Students cannot lose awards, eligibility, or the cha… - Schools must send attendance rules: benefit, low. Within one month after school opens, the school board sends parents the compulsory attendance law and its enforcement rules. This gives families early, written notice of local attendance policies. - When kids are excused from attendance: benefit, low. Children are excused with a doctor’s note for contagious disease or if required immunizations are not complete. Distance also matters: under age 10, more than 2.0 miles unless transport is within 1.0 mile; ages 10–17, more than 2.5 miles unless transport is within 1.5 miles. Parents may delay schoo… - Alternative school required after serious cases: cost, medium. School boards can require a child to attend an alternative education program after certain weapons, drug, alcohol, or intentional injury charges, or after suspension or expulsion. Courts can also order a pupil into night school, adult education, or other alternative programs. The board where the pr… - Alternative path for students 16+: mixed, medium. For students age 16 or older, the school meets with the family to set an individual alternative education plan. It must include career counseling, prep for a Board‑approved high school equivalency or other approved path, a career credential, and the economics and personal finance course. It also in… - School attendance ages and options: mixed, medium. The law requires school for children who turn five by September 30 until they turn 18. Families can meet this by public or private school, an approved tutor, or home instruction that follows state homeschool rules. Approved remote classes can count as attendance when the school allows it. Board‑app… - Rules for students in custody: mixed, low. Students in the custody of juvenile justice or corrections are covered by attendance rules. Youth ages 16–18 in an adult facility who are actively working toward a Board‑approved high school equivalency and are not in an alternative plan are not required to attend. Any child with a diploma, complet… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Hillary Pugh Kent (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-04 | House | Senate amendment agreed to by House | pass | 95 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote | pass | 40 | 0 | | | 2026-03-02 | Senate | Committee amendment agreed to (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-27 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 | | | 2026-02-27 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 37 | 0 | | | 2026-02-26 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health with amendment | pass | 15 | 0 | | | 2026-02-06 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 94 | 2 | | | 2026-02-02 | House | Reported from Education with substitute | pass | 21 | 1 | | | 2026-02-02 | House | Reported from Education with substitute | pass | 13 | 2 | | | 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 8 | 2 | | ## Actions (38) - 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0193) (Governor) - 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 193 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor) - 2026-03-14: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-12: Signed by Speaker (House) - 2026-03-11: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) (House) - 2026-03-11: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB653ER) (House) - 2026-03-11: Enrolled (House) - 2026-03-11: Signed by President (Senate) - 2026-03-04: Senate amendment agreed to by House (95-Y 0-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-03-02: Passed Senate with amendment Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Committee amendment agreed to (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Read third time (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Rules suspended (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Senate committee offered (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Reported from Education and Health with amendment (15-Y 0-N) (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) (House) - 2026-02-09: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate) - 2026-02-09: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate) - 2026-02-06: Read third time and passed House (94-Y 2-N 0-A) (House) - 2026-02-05: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House) - 2026-02-05: committee substitute agreed to (House) - 2026-02-05: Read second time (House) - 2026-02-04: Read first time (House) - 2026-02-02: Committee substitute printed 26106668D-H1 (House) - 2026-02-02: House committee offered (House) - 2026-02-02: Reported from Education with substitute (21-Y 1-N) (House) - 2026-02-02: Reported from Education with substitute (13-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-01-29: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB653) (House) - 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (8-Y 2-N) (House) - 2026-01-27: House subcommittee offered (House) - 2026-01-23: Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee (House) - 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Education (House) - 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104899D (House) ## Bill text - Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216666.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216665.PDF) - Enrolled, 2026-03-11: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199349.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199348.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189035.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186194.HTML) - Amendment, 2026-02-26: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182060.HTML) - Substitute, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107636.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105468.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105467.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107635.PDF) - Amendment, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097217.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097429.HTML) - Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085364.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085363.PDF) ## Related bills - HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed) - HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed) - HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed) - HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed) - HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed) ## Sources - [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216666.HTML) - [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216665.PDF) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199349.HTML) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1199348.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1189035.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1186194.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1182060.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107636.HTML) - [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105468.HTML) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105467.PDF) - [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1107635.PDF) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097217.HTML) - [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097429.HTML) - [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085364.HTML) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085363.PDF) ## Related - [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026) - [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026) - [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026) - [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026) - [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026) - [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026) - [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills) - [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB653-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).